Max Verstappen says 'unacceptable' Red Bull issues could stop title challenge

Max Verstappen said his retirement from the Australian Grand Prix was «unacceptable» after he fell further behind championship leader Charles Leclerc due to a reliability issue with his Red Bull.

Verstappen retired on lap 40 while running in a comfortable second place behind Leclerc, who dominated out in front.

Verstappen has finished only one of the first three races and has retired twice while running in second position.

The reigning champion already trails Leclerc by 46 points, which is almost the equivalent to two race wins.

«We are already miles behind. I don't even want to think about the championship fight at the moment, it is more important to finish races,» Verstappen told Sky Sports after the race.

«Of course, today was in general a bad day again. Not really having the pace, I was just managing my tyres to bring it to the end. It looked like an easy P2 anyway and I knew I could not fight Charles so there was no point in trying to put pressure on him.

»We didn't even finish the race so it is pretty frustrating and unacceptable."

Verstappen's radio message when he pulled his car to the side of the road that he could smell a «weird fluid» from his car.

Red Bull was working on Verstappen's car on the grid before the race and the Dutchman said the prospect of not finishing the race was in the back of his mind.

«I knew there was a problem so there was always gonna be a question mark in finishing the race. These kind of things, if you want to fight for the title, these things cannot happen.»